Monthly Archives: September 2015

This year the ImportantCool team has studied the disappointing shark-jumping of House of Cards season three, as well as the artistry of Mad Men’s triumphant final season. We now turn to 2015’s unlikely success story, Mr. Robot.

Mr. Robot has been described as the USA Network’s Breaking Bad, which is apt for a couple of reasons.

I recently wrote an article about the 2015 Baku Euro Games based on an interview with environmental justice campaigner Emma Hughes. The Games were part of an advertising pitch to gain social approval within Azerbaijan’s future European gas and oil markets, shoring up legitimacy for the unholy marriage of BP and the Azeri ruling elite. Hughes’ recent book All That Glitters: Sport, BP and Repression in Azerbaijan focused on Azerbaijan’s human rights record, in particular its low level of media freedom and the high number of political prisoners. On 1 September 2015 one of those prisoners, investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, was sentenced to 7 ½ years in prison on politically-motivated charges of tax evasion, illegal business activity, and abuse of power. Continue reading →

Yunnan province, its name literally meaning “south of the clouds”, is a beautiful region in the southwestern periphery of China. Early in 2015 I was fortunate enough to spend six weeks wandering around this mysterious land. Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar border Yunnan to the south. In the west, the Himalayas loom, separating the Tibetan plateau from the east. An incredible diversity of landscapes ranging from alpine forests, dusty plains, and tropical lowlands make for a place that will not disappoint those itching to satiate their wanderlust. These photos were taken on a Nikon F2 camera, using Kodak Ektar 100 film.